Jakarta, ThedailyID — An Indonesian citizen has become the first person jailed in Malaysia for littering after throwing a cigarette butt in a public area.
The 36-year-old worker could not pay the RM1,000 fine, worth around Rp4 million. A Malaysian court then sentenced him to one month in prison.
Zainal Fitri Ahmad, director of SWCorp Johor, said the man was found guilty of the offense in Stulang in February 2026. Authorities did not disclose his name.
The man began serving his sentence on August 28 after failing to settle the fine. He will also complete six hours of community service after leaving prison.
“The man will undergo six hours of community service after completing his prison sentence,” Zainal said at a press conference, as quoted by Free Malaysia Today, Wednesday, September 16.
Malaysia has also taken action against other littering cases in Johor. Authorities have processed 107 cases that resulted in community service orders.
Those cases involved 59 Malaysian citizens and 48 foreign nationals. Courts imposed a combined RM71,550 in fines, while community service periods ranged from two to 10 hours.
Meanwhile, Johor authorities have conducted 3,358 enforcement operations. They also issued 3,095 violation notices and submitted 789 investigation files to deputy public prosecutors for further action.
Under Section 77A of Malaysia’s Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007, littering in public places is an offense.
Offenders can face a fine of up to RM2,000 or a community service order of up to six months. Failure to comply with the order can lead to further action, including a fine of up to RM10,000.
